Guasha

Gua sha (pronounced gwah-shah) is an important hands-on therapy that has been used throughout Asia for centuries. Loosely translated it refers to the superficial red rash that comes up from scraping the skin with a special tool, such as a porcelain soup spoon or other jade or stone tool with a smooth rounded edge. These are used to gently scrape the surface of the skin to stimulate the immune system, soothe stiff achy muscles and tendons as well as enhance circulation to improve tissue healing from injury or trauma.

What is it? What does it do?

Okay, I know what you’re thinking, “Scraping my skin with a soup spoon? Are you serious?” I realize it sounds pretty weird and maybe even painful. But’s it’s not. It feels amazing! I had my doubts, too when I was a patient beginning in the early ‘90’s. But it really helped me a lot when I was in excruciating pain after injuring my neck. After my first session I felt so much better I could hardly believe it. 

From a western perspective gua sha is useful in eliminating muscle adhesions which lead to painful muscle knots and tight bands. It is also used over joints where there is stiffness and restricted range of motion. Each muscle is wrapped in a sheath of connective tissue called ‘fascia’. (For more info, see my blog on what fascia is and why it’s vital to treat even though other healing modalities ignore it). The muscles and the surrounding fascia are supposed to glide smoothly over each other, like your arm and shoulder in a sleeve. But in cases of injury or repetitive stress the fascia heats up and gets sticky, adhering to the muscles in different areas. These adhesions cause pain and stiffness. Gua sha breaks up the adhesions, immediately alleviating pain and restoring natural range of motion and strength.

Gua sha also resolves spasms as well as pain, and promotes normal circulation to the muscles, tissues and organs. Research has shown that gua sha causes a four-fold increase in microcirculation of surface tissue.